Laffin, Margaret E.

May 04, 2005

LAFFIN, Margaret E.

Margaret E. Laffin, 86, of the Elmwood section of West Hartford entered her eternal reward Sunday, (May 1, 2005). She was the widow of Arthur R. Laffin, her beloved husband of 60 years who predeceased her in 1999. She was born October 30, 1918 in East Norwalk to Joseph and Mary (Arday) Laychak. She leaves five children and their families, Elizabeth and Edward Schmedes of Baltimore, MD; Maureen Laffin Philadelphia, PA; Joseph Laffin and Margaret Steeves of West Hartford; Francis Laffin and Cathleen Fox Laffin of West Hartford; Arthur Laffin and Colleen McCarthy of the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington, D.C. Two children predeceased her, her beloved daughter Mary in 1988 and her beloved son Paul in 1999; she was also predeceased by her brother, Joseph. Margaret also leaves six cherished grandchildren, Peter, Patrick, Michael, Matthew, Stephen, Christopher and two great grandchildren, Laura and Scott and her sister-in-law, Mildred Laychak of Arizona. After their marriage in 1939, Margaret and Art settled in Hartford where they raised their seven children. They were very active in St. Lawrence O'Toole Parish, where Margaret was a lector and taught CCD. With her husband, she was very active in the Legion of Mary and was an Associate of the Sisters of Mercy. A retiree from the State of Connecticut, she was active in the women's retreat program at Our Lady of Calvary in Farmington where she celebrated 45 years of participation last year. She was also a tireless fundraiser for Catholic Charities Group Homes, which provides homes for people with mental retardation. In 1996, her family was named Catholic Family of the Year in the Archdiocese of Hartford. Since her move to Elmwood in 2000, she has been a devoted member of St. Brigid Church. At the time of her passing, she had been a corporator of St. Francis Hospital for several years. Her funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, May 7, at 9 a.m. at St. Brigid Church, 1088 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. Friends may call at the Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford on Friday, May 6 from 5-8 pm. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Memorial donations may be made to the Catholic Charities Group Homes, 839-841 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, 06105.